I find myself in a constant battle to repossess my body as my own,” says Sarah Rodriguez. “As the mother of 13-month-old twins, my days can be chaotic and sometimes leave me feeling touched out. Julie, mother of three, says, “I remember telling my husband that with three children (7, 2 and a breastfeeding newborn) I felt like I was never not being touched and was ready to scream sometimes.” The simplest touch leaves me with a negative, overwhelming feeling that seems to say, ‘This is not okay. I’ve been touched out plenty of times! I feel anxious and claustrophobic. I’m a stay-at-home mom, so Abigail and I play together all day. “I’m a first-time mother to a spunky, active one-year-old daughter, Abigail,” says Whitney Davis. I loved my baby and was very proud of his chubby arms and legs, but between cluster feeds and pumping I felt like I was a walking milk machine!” I remember times, especially during the early months, when cluster feeds would leave me feeling very touched out. Nursing was a special time for closeness, bonding, and nourishment. Maura Hume, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, says, “I breastfed my son, Theodin, for the first two years of his life. I’ve always been someone who needs alone time to recharge and repair, but I knew that I wanted my girls to have secure attachment.” It can be extremely tough, especially for introverts such as myself. Mother is the vehicle baby goes everywhere with. “Being touched out is a very real thing,” says Kelly Doughty. Never fear, your feelings are completely normal, and there are things you can do to get past these touchy feelings. If you are like many breastfeeding mothers, you are very familiar with the feeling of being “touched out.” It’s a strange phenomenon because, along with the irritation, comes the guilt over feeling irritated by your loved ones.

You just want a few minutes to feel like your body is your own.

The idea of intimacy with your partner is the farthest thing from your mind. You can’t stand the thought of one more snuggle or cuddle.

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